The Archetype Theory of Professional Service Firms - An Analysis of Law Firms in Germany

In this paper, we discuss aspects of organizational archetype theory that is widely used to understand organizational forms of professional service firms like law firms. With the professional partnership (P² form) and the so-called managed professional business (MPB) two dominant archetypes are well documented for law firms. However, more recent and international research provides evidence for a third form. With view on German law firms two questions arise: First, which organizational archetypes could be observed for German law firms? Second, is there a general movement form the P2 towards the managed professional business as suggested by archetype theory? Based on empirical data the present study of law firms in the German market confirms previous work that argues for two archetypes, P² and MPB as typical organizational forms of law firms. However, the data also reveal that a third schizoid form exists. Analyzing interpretive schemes and contingency factors, we argue that this schizoid form is an archetype of growing law firms.